What's been going on with us for the last month...

This post has been waiting awhile, because I wanted pictures of my trip in it. However, I have NO pictures from this trip because Scott and I decided that it would be better to leave the camera with him, and I would just get pictures from the other people who were with me on my trip. Getting those pictures is more challenging than I'd thought it would be, because we took sooooooo many pictures. Really, it's not their fault, I want good quality copies, so we have to with until I can upload them on my computer. So I need to be patient. But just so you all know, it was a blast. If you want to see pictures of my trip to Montreal, you can go to my Facebook page, where Irina has graciously posted some pictures she took. If you want to see pics of my trip to Connecticutt and NY to see Cheryl & Blake and their kids, and my parents, then go to Cheryl's blog, http://www.bcroper.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, I'm hoping that Scott will pen his first post ever, and tell you what he and the kids did while I was gone. It sounds to me like they had fun-in fact, listening to them, it sounds like they had more fun than I did! Scott did a great job at being Mr. Mom (of course, he's often that around here, but he did 8 days all by himself!) and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful husband! It was time that I needed and he gave it to me so willingly.

So, for this post, I'm going to start with pictures taken with Jaron and Heidi before I left, when they visited us. They suprised us the week before when they called to ask if they could come visit. Now, just in case any of you are also wondering if that would be ok, I'll tell you now what I told them, "YES! Really, you're coming?! Oh we're so excited!!! When?" Truly, we love to have visitors. In fact we even now have an open room (and we can make more room if you need it) since Tyler and Emalyn are now sharing a room. I took courage when visiting my sister Cheryl who's two kids share a room and came home and made the change. They're really doing pretty good with it so far.

Anyway, we had so much fun with Jaron, Heidi, and little Jaxen.

Here is little Jaxen, isn't he adorable!
Definitely a well-loved little guy!
We went to the Greenbelt along the Snake River to feed the ducks and walk around the temple grounds across the street.

Jaron, gripping Tyler and Emalyn's shirts to keep them from falling in the river (it was not an ideal place for kids to feed the ducks).

The kids found this little table on our walk around the temple. Apparently it was a little tough to keep Krysta there long enough to get a picture.

Loved this picture that Heidi took of Emalyn.

Tyler and Emalyn found this stump that had been carved into a chair along our walk to the temple.

Oh no, we're in jail!

Krysta decided this was the comfortable way to ride in the 40-degree weather.

As you can see, we had a lot of fun with them. Thanks again to them for watching the kids while I packed and got ready to go on my trip!!

Now for what we have been doing since I got back:

On Tuesday, Tyler had his first soccer practice of the season (and his first ever!), so here he is with his uniform and ball: (he was really excited and in a funny mood, as you can tell from the pictures.)

Krysta also got excited about the soccer ball, and the mysterious toothbrush she'd found somewhere that day.